EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball finished a grueling six game in three days stretch in strong fashion, muscling out a Monday sweep of Alvin CC at Lady Bengal Field. The Bengals (16-3) improved to 4-0 in the season in one run games.
LSUE fought back from an early hole, using a two late offensive innings to take a 6-5 opener against Dolphins then won a classic back-and-forth 3-2 to close out the day's action.
Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) played a big role in both games, driving in the go ahead run in the opener and scoring the go ahead run in the finale. She led the team with three RBIs and two runs scored over the doubleheader.
The Bengals close out their February homestand with a pair of twinbills next weekend. LSUE hosts Northeast Texas CC on Saturday starting at 1:00PM, followed by an NJCAA Top 5 matchup against Jones College beginning at 3:00PM on Sunday.
Game 1 vs. Alvin CC – W, 6-5
LSU Eunice used two late three-run innings to complete a come from behind rally and defeat Alvin CC 6-5 to open the Monday doubleheader. The game marked the third time this year LSUE has won a game in its final at bat.
The Bengals found themselves in a 4-0 hole going into the fifth inning after a cold start at the plate. LSUE would wake up with three runs in the fifth, using three straight doubles by
Makinzey Elisar (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS), Payton Prince, and
Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) to trim the deficit to 4-3.
Alvin answered with a run in the sixth before the Bengals put up another three spot in the bottom half. After a sacrifice grounder by
Mylie Elsensohn (Pearl River, LA, Pearl River HS), Elisar and Prince produced the game tying and go ahead runs. The duo was joined by Elsensohn and
Kadyn Schenk (Kentwood, LA, Jewel Sumner HS) with two-hit games.
Carlei Wheeler (Simsboro, LA, Simsboro HS) finished the deal for the Bengals in the circle, picking up her first win as a Bengal in her best outing of the year. The freshman tossed 3 innings of relief work, giving up one earned run off two hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Emily Rachal (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) threw three innings in the no decision with
Anna-Cate Miller (West Monroe, LA, Claiborne Christian HS) giving one inning of relief.
Game 2 vs. Alvin CC – W, 3-2
The Bengals gutted out a 3-2 finale over Alvin to secure the Monday sweep and take all six games over a three-day stretch.
Both teams scratched a run across in the opening inning with Payton Prince tying the game in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly to score Mylie Elsensohn. The Bengals took the lead an inning later on a
Mya Lanoux (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) RBI single.
After Alvin tied the game up again in the third, Makinley Harris provided the game winner run, bringing in Prince with a RBI single.
That was all
Erika Savage (Kingwood, TX, Kingwood Park HS) needed to pick up her 8th win of the season. The sophomore came in relief, hurling four shutout frames. She would yield three hits while not allowing a free pass. Savage struck out three batters in the game, putting down the Dolphins in order in the fifth and seventh innings.
Ava Defee (Benton, LA, Benton HS) got the start in the circle, tossing three innings.
Lanoux and Elsensohn were joined by
Zoey Smith (Choudrant, LA, Choudrant HS) with two-hit games, part of LSUE's 9-hit attack.
